Packing ether for storage, shipment, and sale



Jan. 7, 1930. `J. T. GLEKLER 1,742,206

PACKING ETHER FOR STORAGE, SHIPMENT, AND SALE Filed Feb. 2,6', 1925 i1:1 III E H IHllml' lli, H iiIlIIIII l IIIIINNNII' I x umflliw Il It!IMI! ATTORNEY Patented `lan. 7, 1930 NzuN-ITED STATES en enr OFFICElTOHN TRUMAN GLEKLER, or CLEVELAND, OHIYdnssIGNOnTO THE O Hro`onnivrIOAL a Y: imiNIJPF-AGfauRJNGr COMPANY, or OLEVELANB,

Omo, A GORPORATIONOF OHIO PACKING ETHER FOR STORAGE, SHIPMENT, AND SALEApplication filed February 26, 1925.` Serial No. 11,690.

This invention relates to the packing of anesthetics, such as ether andchloroform, for

storage, shipment, and sale, and its chief ob-` ject is to provide amethod of packaging which will maintain the contents of' the containerin proper condition for use, preventing the formation (especially in thecase of ether) of oxidation products which often result from contactwith the oxygen of the air. To this end I lill the bottle, jar, drum,

can, or other container, in an atmosphere composed of inert gas orgases, say carbon dioxide or nitrogen, or a mixture of the two,preferably the first named alone, and the space (in the container)unoccupied by liquid I lill with the same gas. In carrying out my methodin the preferred manner I first expel from' the ether any air or othergas that may be held therein, mechanically or otherwise, by bubblingcarbon dioxide under pressure through the ether, thereby thoroughlyagitating the ether and providing above it an air-free atmosphere;utilizing, later, the pressure of this atmosphere to permit or causeoutflow of the .ether into the containers in which it is to be stored,shipped, or sold.

With the above objects in view the invention comprises the novel method,apparatus and article hereinafter described.

A simple and convenient apparat-us for practicing my method isillustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing.

The tank or drum 10, containing the ether which is to be charged intothe smaller vessels, is provided at the bottom with one or moreperforated pipes 11, connected outside to a pipe 12 having` a valve 13between two filling pipes 14, 15 provided with trigger valves 16, 17 andextending down into the can 18 or other container which is to be filledwith ether. These filling pipes extend into the can through the openmouth of the same.

Pipe 12 is detachably connected through a pressure reducing valve 19 toa cylinder 20, containing carbon dioxide or nitrogen under pressure andhaving an outlet valve 21.

'Ihe tank or drum 10 is also detachably connected to a cylinder 22containing carbon dioxide or nitrogen, by means of a pipe 23, leadingfrom the pressure reducing valve 24 `discharged at suitable into' thebodyl of ether. thoroughly agitated, and any'other gas therel,

to the top of the drum. The cylinder 22 has closed, the screw plug 26 isremoved, so as to open the vent hole in the top of the drum.n 110, andvalves 13 and 21 are opened, allowing the gas (preferably carbondioxide)to be pressure from pipe 11 The latter is" thus in is driven out. At thesame time air above the ether is expellediby the carbon dioxide gasthrough the vent. vWhen all Vthe air has been driven out, the `plug'26-is replaced, Vvalve V13is closed, and valve 25 on cylinder 22 4isopened, allowing carbon dioxide to enter the drum at g the top, atpreferably a slightly higher pressure, and gas is delivered by thepressure reducing valve 19 from Cylinder 20. i Valve 17, on the fillingpipe 15, is now opened, allowing gas from cylinder to enter the can V18at the bottom, so as to expel the air therefrom. The can is thus filledwith carbon dioxide, which,` being'heavier than air, suffers no materialcontamination in the brief period during which the can is open. Valvel,in filling pipe 14, is nowopened, allowing ether to enter the can at thebottom from the drum 10, along with carbon dioxide from cylinder `20 byway of pipe 15, valve V17 being kept open for that purpose. When tank 10.is left open. The vessel 18 is then Y filled (by gravity)by openingt-he valve 16, after which the valve 19 is opened, allowing carbondioxide from cylinder 2O to agitate the ether in thevessel, expellingthe air and filling the space above the ether. I prefer the .procedurefirst described, however, since the closing of the vent and the pressureof the carbon dioxide on the ether in the tank minimizes loss byevaporation.

Experience has shown that if the can is sealed promptly after removalfrom the filling pipes the atmosphere of carbon dioxide above the etheris not sensibly contaminated by air, so that the can after sealingcontains only ether, ether vapor, and carbon dioxide, with the resultthat there is no formation of peroxides or other oxidation products solong as the can remains sealed.

'lhe specific method described is the pref'erred way of filling thecontainers, being more convenient and economical than other ways nowknown to me, including the use of carbon dioxide in solid or liquidform. In the latter case care should be taken to see that the solid forliquid carbon dioxide has all .z evaporated before the can is sealed.Other- Wise evaporation after sealing my result in dangerous internalpressure.

As stated at the outset, nitrogen or other inert gas may be used insteadof carbon dioxide but the latter is preferred.

I claiml. An apparatus `for illing vessels with ether, comprising anether tank, an apertured. pipe in the tank arranged at the bottomthereof and adapted to be connected outside of the tank to a source of'carbon dioxide under pressure, a valvein said pipe outside of the tank,a valved iilling pipe connected with the lirst mentioned pipe betweenthe v valve therein and the tank for delivery of ether from the tankinto the vessel which is to be filled, and a valved filling pipeconnected with the first mentioned pipe between the valve therein andthe source of carbon dioxide for delivery of' carbon dioxide into saidvessel, said filling pipes being adapted to permit their simultaneousinsertion into the said vessel.

2. An apparatus for filling vessels with ether, comprising an ethertank, a pipe extending into the same for delivery ofl carbon dioxidethereinto and discharge of ether therefrom, a source of carbon dioxideconnected to said pipe, a valve in the pipe, a valved pipe connectedwith the first pipe between the valve therein and the ether tank, and avalved pipe connected to the first pipe between the valve therein andthe source of carbon dioxide, said valved pipes being adapted forsimultaneous insertion into a vessel to be filled with ether.

3. An apparatus for filling vessels with ether, comprising an ethertank, means for Vdelivering carbon dioxide under pressure at the top ofsaid tank to displace air and discharge ether therefrom, a valveddelivery pipe extending into said tank at the bottom thereof, a sourceof carbon dioxide connected with said pipe, thereby constituting asecond means for delivering carbon dioxide into the

